Closure means for containers



Jan. 7, 1930 p. G. WILLIAMS QLOSURE MEANS FOR CONTAINERS Filed Aug. 10, 1927 Ewe/7x55 ,Pa'tented Jan. 7, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT orm-cs DAVID G. wnmrans, Oil ALLENTOWH', rm SYLVAN 1L, ASSIGNOB GPO-TROJAN POWDER NEW YORK, I. 'Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK CLOSURE MEANS FOR CONTAINERS mum... fled Lu:ust 10,'1m. Serial Io. 212,005.

sions adapted tobe folded over to close the package.

One of the objects of the invention is to rovide a container which shall be particufi 1o arly useful in the packaging of pulverulent or granular materials, and to this end the invention contemplates the provision of a novel type of closure extraordinarily tight and firm and havingthe characteristic also of reinforcing and strengthening the end or ends of the package to which it is applied andv tending to prevent. distortion.

Another object of the invention is -to pro-' vide a novel form of closure for the type of container mentioned above which will facilitate closing of the package to which it may be applied and which in general will. be cheaper than closure-means used prior to my invention. I,

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel form of closure applicable to containers of the aforedescribed type which.

may conveniently be opened for inspection of the contents of, the package and again tightly closed.

' The invention further resides in certain novel structural details as hereinafter set forth and described in the attached drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a foldfastening element made in accordance with my invention; I

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of a form of container to which the device is applicable;

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective showing the initial fold of the upper flexible end of the container over the contents;

- Fig. 4 is a view in perspective showing the manner in which the fold-fastening device is applied to the container;

Fig. 5 is a view showing the succeeding step in completing the closure, and

Fig. 6 shows the package in its final form.

With particular reference to Fig. 1 of the 50 drawings, the device, which as described above is particularly applicable to containers such as bags or envelopes having flaps or exa apted to be folded over to close I the container, and which is also applicable to tensions packages in general em loyingflexlble wrappers,'consists in a re erred form of aflat sheet or plate. 1 pre erably of relatively rigid material such as cardboard or vulcanized bre and shaped in eneral in accordance with the particular orm of the container with which it is to be. used. Where the envelope itself constitutes the container, the plate is designed to more or less neatly fit and to substantially block the mouth ofthe envelope; and where the envelope constitutes merel a wrapper for the container proper, the p ate will be shaped in accordance with the orm of the container, as will hereinafter be made clear. As shown in Fig. 1, the plate 1 comprises at one end a tab-like extension 3 which is capable of being bent transversely from the plane ofthe device for a purpose hereinafter set forth. The plate also is provided in the present instance with a slot 4,- 'whose function also will be hereinafter desponds closely to the width or breadth of the container at the level of the contents. It is not essential in the practice of this invention that the entire container be made of flexible material, since it is only necessary that a flexible part be provided capable of being folded over as described.

This extension, designated in Fig. 3 by the reference numeral 5, 1S first folded infrom one side so that a portion of the extension lies substantially flat over the contents. Thereafter and as shown in Fig. 4, the plate 1 is inserted so that it lies flat upon the folded-in portion of the extension and thereby effectively blocks the mouth of the envelope. Also the plate 1 is so applied that the tab 3 which is turned substantially at right angles from the plane of the plate projects downwardly between the inside of the envelope and the contents thereof, as indicated in broken lines in Fig. 4, so that this tab acts as an anchor preventing withdrawal of the plate from its normal position, except by elevating it sufficiently to free the tab. Obviously the plate cannot be withdrawn in its own plane from the position in which it is shown in Fig. 4. It will further be noted that the sides of the still upwardly extending portion of the extension 5 extend around the edges of the plate in such manner as further to tend to retain the plate in the adjusted position.

The next step in closing the package is to turn in the sides of the upstanding portion of the extension 5, as shown in Fig. 5, to thereby form a final relatively narrow and pointed fold 6 which in the final operation is turned forwardly and downwardly against the top of the container and is inserted and anchored in the slot 4 of the plate 1, as illustrated in Fig. 4.

It has been found that a package having a closure of the type described above and utilizing the fold-fastening element 1 is an extremely desirable one. It provides a closure for example which is relatively tight, which may be quickly applied, and which is relatively inexpensive. It further -provides a closure which may be conveniently opened for inspection of the contents of the package and again secured without in any way affecting its normal efficiency. \Vhere a relatively rigid fold-fastening plate is employed, it has the further desirable effect of reinforcing the end of the package at which point the package normally is relatively weak, and tends not only to prevent distortion of the package as a whole but protects the ends of the package against mechanical injury.

It will be understood that the device is applicable to many forms and shapes of package other than the one herein illustrated. Its use, for example, in securing wrappers on separate containers will be apparent and requires no further description, since the application is essentially the'same as described above. In general, the device is readily applicable to all forms of package involving an envelope, either as the container itself or as a wrapper embracing the container, having a flexible extension or extensions adapted to be folded as described to close the package.

I claim:

1. In a container, the combination with an envelope having a flexible extension adapted for folding over to close the package, and a fastening element adapted to fit between the folds of said extension and to substantially fill the mouth of the envelope and having therein a slot into which may be inserted the outerof said folds to complete the closure.

2. In a container, the combination with an envelope having a flexible extension adapted for folding over to close the package, and-a relatively rigid reinforcing and' fastening element adapted to fit between the folds of said extension and to substantially fill the mouth of the envelope and having therein a slot into which may be inserted the outer of said folds to complete the closure.

3. In a container, the combination with an envelope having a flexible extension adapted for folding over to close the package, and a fastening element adapted to fit between the folds of said extension and having therein a slot for reception of the final fold.

4. In a container, the combination with an envelope having a flexible extension adapted for folding over to close the package, and a disk adapted to fit between and having means for retaining the folds of said extension and having also a tab which in assembly is adapted'to project from the plane of the disk and between the envelope and its contents thereby to constitute an anchor preventing accidental withdrawal of the element from the con tainer.

5. A fold-fastening device for packages of the class including an envelope and having a flexible extension ada ted for foldin over the mouth of the enve ope, which conslsts of I which the final or outer fold may be inserted.

DAVID G. WILLIAMS. 

